(If you haven't in a while, I'd suggest re-reading Chapter 20 before going any further. Maybe even all of Season 1 again— but only if you are digging into the lore and don't want to miss out on solving the mystery~)

Everything changes so quickly. Time moves on too fast. It's hard to keep up with everything going on.

Just the other day, everything was perfect.

He had a home, one he felt safe in with all the food he could eat and clothes to wear. He had a roommate that he was just beginning to trust with his life and started to call a friend. A real friend. How great was that? A friend he could talk with, hold hands with, and get hugs and platonic kisses from. He felt so comfortable with them because he could be himself and they still kept him around. They liked his jokes, his games, and his sense of humor. They liked him...for him.

But then everything changed. It all happened too fast, much sooner than he would have liked it to.

That safe haven he thought he once knew was lost to him. He lost his home and the one person he thought he could call a friend. Had they really been a friend, though, or had they just been playing him all along? All this time, they were constantly reminding him that he was safe and would not get hurt only to turn around and stab him in the back when he least expected it.

Now he was all alone.

He was all alone again.

He needed to go somewhere, find somewhere to stay.

It was late, it was cold, and it had started to rain. His plan was to just steal a bench at the park or something, but with it raining as heavily as it was he didn't want to stay out and soak the only clothes he now had. He had to find some place to stay, and there was only one other place he felt safe enough to be himself.

He rang the doorbell. When nobody came, he started knocking on the door in a rapid manner. It was freezing outside and he was soaked from head-to-toe.

Finally, the door had slowly begun to push open. Finally, someone decided to greet him. And finally Bill Cipher spoke, having said nothing since he called Y/n L/n out for what they truly were:

A liar.

"Bill? Honey, you haven't even touched your food," the gentle voice spoke out, sitting beside him at the table.

He was now fully dry. He had been given access to their bathroom to take a hot shower and was given a fresh pair of clothes. The clothes were too big for him, but he didn't mind. He preferred the loose articles for now.

Bill sat there, staring down at the bowl of hot soup that had been prepared just for him. He couldn't bring himself to take a bite, though. He didn't feel like he deserved it. He fidgeted with the bowtie around his neck, contemplating something over and over in his head.

"Hey, you feeling alright? You know, if there's anything you want to talk about, we're here to listen," another voice said, the one he had gotten his new clothes from.

Bill finally raised his head, staring into the eyes of two concerned humans wishing to comfort him in his time of need. Did he deserve their sympathy? Did he deserve care or kindness from others? He thought he did. Y/n made him believe he did. But now...

"I...want to talk to you. I want to explain everything to the both of you, after all you've done for me— I'm just not sure... how. I feel like I should start from the beginning, but I'm afraid you'll hate me once I begin telling you the truth. The truth about who I am. The truth about what I am."

There was a pause. Bill took a deep breath in, letting it out as slow as possible to try and calm his nerves. He then opened his mouth and went to speak up once more—

"Are you a cannibal?"

—only to be cut off instantly by a new voice that had emerged from the darkness.

Quite literally.

"Anya! What are you doing out of bed? And- And how do you know that word?!"

"I heard talking so I couldn't sleep. Some students brought it up in class the other day. Figured it wouldn't hurt to ask and double check to make sure we're not letting a human-eater into our house."

A heavy sigh could be heard across the table from the man before he turned to look towards his wife. "Cynthia, would you mind getting her back to bed? Please? I can't help both of my problem children, and right now I think Bill might need me more."

Cynthia Walls smiled, nodding her head as she stood up and gave her husband, Brik Walls, a gentle kiss to the top of his head. "Make sure he eats a couple bites before heading off to bed, alright? Princess, come here. It's late and you have school tomorrow."

"But he didn't answer my question!" Anya cried as she was picked up and carried out of the kitchen.

Brik watched his daughter get taken away, shaking his head with a fond smile. "That girl is going to be trouble for me when she's grown up, I just know it," he muttered under his breath before turning to face the blond across from him once more. "Sorry about that. She's— I don't even know why students in her grade level are having conversations about cannibals. ...But just to be clear, that's not what you were about to confess to being, right?"

"No, no—" Bill quickly denied, wanting to reassure Brik in an instant that his family was safe, but then he began to ponder the question for a moment longer. He thought over the words over and over again. He swallowed nervously, lowering his head to stare down at the bowl that remained untouched by his hand. "Though... hypothetically speaking... if I were to eat a human, which I haven't, it wouldn't be accurate to call it cannibalism. It would only be called cannibalism... if I were eating my own species."

Brik stared at the child before him in absolute silence. He wasn't fully understanding what Bill meant by saying this to him. He tried to open his mouth and say something, but then closed it in the hopes that Bill would explain further what he was trying to say.

Which Bill did, very reluctantly.

"I'm not human. I'm not... like you, Brik. I'm not even from this dimension," Bill gasped, lifting his head up to stare into the eyes of the last person in this town he was hoping he could trust with this information.

This was so much easier confessing who and what he was before, why did it scare him so much to reveal his true identity now? He could trust Brik, right? He wouldn't abandon him. He wouldn't wrong him.

...Right?

He thought the same about Y/n and look how that turned out—

"My name is Bill Cipher and I am a dream demon."

Bill held his breath at that moment, waiting for his response. He wanted to believe that no matter what he was he would still be accepted by this family, but the intrusive thoughts within his mind told him that there would only be rejection to come from this and he should expect nothing less than screams and fists. It worries him, so much so that he physically could not breathe until Brik said something. And this man, for some unknown reason, was taking his sweet time to open his mouth again. Bill could have sworn his face was probably turning blue or purple from the lack of oxygen entering his lungs.

"...Jerome was talking to me about this new species of demons he had learned about that could enter your dreams while you're asleep. He's been really fascinated by them recently. He told me that I wouldn't be able to read about them in any books since there is no written documentation about them in 'our world'. I asked him: if that were the case, then how come he knew so much about them?" Brik paused, tapping his finger against the table. "I thought it was so weird that Jerome also avoided talking to those agents when they came by asking about the town-wide power outage. You know, that happened around the same time you showed up."

Bill took a breath, digging his nails into his pants nervously. He had no idea where Brik was going with this.

"Was that... just a coincidence that those two happened around the same time?"

"No, sir. It's not a coincidence. I caused that when I was being reincarnated."

"Reincarnated?"

"I died. A family that went by the name 'Pines' worked together and got me killed. I was only dead for like a minute but that still counts as being dead. I was then brought back to life as a human in your town in an entirely new body. This body is not mine. I don't know whose body this is but it belonged to someone else before me and now I'm seeing their memories whenever I go to sleep, but that's an entirely different story altogether. Back to the story you need to focus on: I realized pretty quickly that I couldn't leave your town due to some magical barrier keeping the freshly resurrected demon trapped inside. In an attempt to free myself from this prison, I met Jerome, Norah, and Vox. All three of them know the truth and they've been trying to help me escape. We've had... no luck, so far. That's why I'm still here. ...And that's the truth of who I am."

Brik leaned back in his chair, nodding along to the story. He didn't seem all that surprised or shocked by the news. Bill expected more confusion, more disbelief towards everything he was currently rambling on about. It wasn't normal to find that a human was just accepting all of this right off of the bat. Well, unless said human is as big of a fanatic for the supernatural like Jerome. It didn't take much convincing for him, and he was pretty certain that Vox only accepted all of this because Jerome had fully believed in it. The average human like Y/n and Norah, though, both questioned it in the beginning. They both had doubted him when he confessed to what he truly was and he expected the same out of Brik just now. Instead, the man before him looked so calm and content. How could he be so calm right now after Bill just informed him that there is currently a dream demon sitting inside his house where the rest of his family remained?

"So they've known all along. Does anybody else know? What about Ollie or Adrianna?"

"No, they don't know. Y/n knows... but that's because they're the one who found me. We decided it would be best if we kept my identity a secret from everyone else. We had no idea how others would react if they found out. I thought you might hand me over to the government agents and let them deal with me, or maybe you would kill me yourself."

"You thought I'd kill you?" Brik asked, his voice softening as he looked down at the shaking blond.

"I mean— not you specifically. I'm talking about anyone in general in this town. If you guys learned that there was a demon walking around, threatening the safety of your friends and loved ones, surely you'd try to figure out some way to take me out. It's just the natural, human thing to do. Humans have killed me before and I didn't want it to happen again, so we decided to keep our mouths shut about it. Well, most of us, at least. Seems like Jerome's been talking up a storm about me."

Brik shook his head, "No, he never mentioned you. He just talked about dream demons as a whole, he never mentioned your name being tied to any of it. But... I did have my suspicions. You're not normal, Goldie. I figured something was up with you, I just had no idea what that was. There's nothing wrong with that, by the way. I don't care whether or not you're human."

"You don't?"

"No."

Bill frowned, looking away from the human. There was no possible way for Bill to know if he could really trust this man. For all he knew, he was just luring him into a false sense of security. This could all be a trap and Bill was just too vulnerable right now to realize it. He should have kept all of this to himself, continuing to play the role of a human that everyone had a love/hate relationship with. He never should have told the truth. Bill wished he could take it all back but now it was too late.

"Bill?"

The demon looked back, not realizing just how bad he was shaking now in his oversized hoodie that failed to keep him warm and comforted.

"You're lying. You have to be! How can you just be fine with all of this? I'm a demon. I'm a monster! Why don't you care? Why are you just sitting there so calmly? You have no idea what I'm capable of! I have hurt and killed so many in the past and yet you're so calm to have me just sitting here in your house right now with your entire family down the hall! I could hurt all of you without there needing to be a reason. I've done it in the past just because I thought seeing pain would be fun. I'm a freak with no morals! You should feel scared! You should want me gone!" Bill exclaimed, standing up and slamming his hands down on the table. The chair he had currently been sitting in had fallen backwards, left abandoned on the floor.

Bill didn't want Brik to hate or fear him, he really didn't, but Bill did want the truth and maybe if he just showed a bit more of his truth then he can get a real reaction out of this human. He didn't want to be lied to anymore. He didn't want to be hurt by others claiming to care about him when they didn't.

Brik sat silently, allowing the outburst to take place. He ceased tapping his fingers, his eyes narrowing at the demon with a stern expression.

"Have you ever hurt a child?"

Bill swallowed nervously. Nervously? Why should he be nervous? This is what he wanted, after all.

"Yes."

"Was it fun for you?"

"What?"

"Hurting the child. Did you enjoy hurting the child?"

Bill's arms were shaking as he pressed his hands firmly against the table to keep himself from falling over.

"Yes," Bill choked out, finding it hard to let the single word escape. "I've possessed a child and put his body through unimaginable pain. I stabbed his arm with forks, I fell down a flight of stairs, I poured soda into his eyes just to feel the pain and I enjoyed every second of it. I loved it and the only thing I regret was letting his sister get the upper hand and stop me before I could do more to his fragile body."

Brik tilted his head to the side, looking Bill up and down. "If you had the chance, would you do that all over again?"

"I could. I'm still a demon, after all. Nothing's changed, even though I'm stuck in this meat suit I'm still the same vile creature capable of causing unimaginable pain and suffering."

"Is that so? So if given the chance, you'd do all of that to my kids?"

Bill stopped, his eyes widening.

"You'd stab Anya's arms with forks? You'd let Jared's body fall down a flight of stairs and break every bone in his body? You'd pour liquids into Jade's eyes to cause her to go blind and laugh the entire time as you did?"

Bill didn't like this question. Bill didn't like this question in the slightest. His cheeks were becoming damp and it was getting harder for him to stand up straight.

"Bill, answer my question. Would you hurt my kids?"

The dream demon slowly began to shake his head. He hated this question. No, he despised it. Just imagining those scenarios made him want to vomit. What was wrong with him? He was trying to prove to Brik that he was a danger to be feared and that he should hate his guts but instead Bill was the one hating every word coming out of his own mouth. He didn't like bringing any of this up, he didn't like talking about this topic anymore. When he first arrived in this town, he wouldn't have cared to talk about any of this. In fact, he would have loved to talk about his "accomplishments" when it came to inflicting pain onto others. When did he change so much for that topic to suddenly disgust him with every fiber in his being?

"No... No, I wouldn't," Bill whispered, taking a step back from the table.

"Is that the truth?"

"Yes! Yes, it is! I wouldn't hurt them! Not Anya. Not Jared. Not Jade. Not Cynthia. Not- Not any of them! I wouldn't, I swear! I swear, Brik!"

"Don't lie to me now—"

"I'm not! I'm not lying!" Bill screamed, holding the sides of his head and closing his eyes shut tight. It was hard for him to breathe again. He was panicking. As much as he wanted a true reaction out of Brik to know if he really accepted him or not, Bill was having a bit of trouble knowing who his true self was anymore. It's true, he was a monster. It's true, he has hurt innocent lives in the past and he enjoyed it. It's true, he could snap and do it all over again— but was it true to say that he would if given the chance? So much has changed. Bill hadn't even begun to realize just how much he, himself, had changed over these past couple of weeks.

Tears poured down his face as he shook his head violently, trying to hold back a sob as he spoke up again, "I swear, I wouldn't ever hurt them! I love them! I love you guys! I'm just— I'm scared! I'm so scared, I don't want to be lied to anymore! Y/n– Y/n lied to me! They lied and they hurt me and I don't— I don't want to be hurt again!"

Bill fell to his knees, having trouble breathing as he kept his head bowed.

"I'm tired of hurting! I don't want to hurt anymore! I don't want to hurt anyone else! But— But I'm scared that I'll never be safe. I'm scared that everyone is lying and I don't think there's anyone I can actually trust! They all hate me, every last one of them! Once they know who– Once they know what I am, what I've done— You hate me. You hate me, you don't trust me, but I swear— I swear Brik, I wouldn't ever hurt them! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—"

Bill sobbed. He cried out while hugging the hoodie close to himself to try to feel warmth. He wanted warmth, he wanted safety. He wanted a hug above all else. Just a hug and for someone to tell him it would be alright. He lifted his right hand and with his middle finger he began to tap away against the back of his left hand. He had no idea he was even doing it at the time, too focused on trying to breathe and get his thoughts together.

Then he felt it. The warmth finally came, engulfing his body whole. Bill instantly leaned against the source, letting his tears and cries escape from him not caring who else saw.

"I'm sorry," Bill cried out, burying his face against the soft texture of the shirt he was currently cuddling into. "I'm sorry. I wouldn't, I swear."

"Easy, Goldie, easy," a hand began to stroke through Bill's hair in a calming manner, causing the dream demon to close his eyes and lean into the warmth even more with a small whine escaping from him. "I believe you. I know you wouldn't hurt them. Maybe you would have in your former life, but the demon you speak of that you claim to be isn't you anymore. I see you, Bill. You've grown a lot since you first entered our town. I just needed you to be truthful with yourself and realize that you are no longer that demon. That's why I'm not afraid of you. That's why I'm not kicking you out. You're my kid, Bill, and I trust you."

Brik pressed one hand firmly against Bill's back, rubbing it in a circular motion to coax the shaking blond to breathe.

"I'm so sorry you have been hurt so much in the past... I just hope one day you can trust me when I say that I welcome you into my house because I see you and will be here for you no matter what," Brik whispered softly, looking down at Bill as he curled up into his lap and buried himself against his chest.

"...Even though I've hurt kids in the past?" Bill asked, his voice very small now and a bit muffled.

"The past is meant to be learned from. We all make mistakes and we all have moments we're not proud of. I've hurt a lot of people in my past too, Bill. I wasn't exactly the nicest kid in school and like you I had fun when I hurt others. It was my way of passing my pain onto someone else so I didn't have to feel it anymore. I regret what I've done to this day, but I got a second chance. I found someone who wouldn't hurt me and would actually show me what being cared for felt like. ...She gave me three kids who I get to pass that care onto now. I definitely wouldn't mind if I got the chance to pass that care onto a fourth, but that's entirely up to you and whether you feel safe to stay. Stop trying to run and avoid the problem by trying to scare me into believing you're some kind of monster because you're not. I'm not scared of you, Bill, and I don't care whether or not you have demon or human blood coursing through your veins. You took the first step by asking for help and letting yourself be vulnerable. Now let me help you. Please, let me care for you and make sure you are never hurt like you were ever again." Brik slowly reached his hand down to lift Bill's face up just enough to see the bruise that had formed on his cheek. "I don't know what possessed Y/n to hurt you like this, but I swear I'm not going to let anything like this ever happen to you again. You're one of mine, and I don't let anyone hurt my family."

"You don't really want me to be a part of your family," Bill cried, unable to meet Brik's gaze.

"I do though. I already considered you a part of my family the day you came over and had cookies with my kids and spent the whole day playing with them. I trusted you then and I trust you now"

Brik smiled gently, hugging the demon even closer to himself which urged Bill to finally look up. It was then that he saw it: Brik's eyes. The warmth and care that were held behind those two eyes. He saw it and it caused his brain to buffer for a second. "You... mean that," Bill whispered under his breath. It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Those eyes held so much truth, he couldn't possibly ignore it now.

He really could trust this human.

"Of course I do— Oh. Oh, no, I didn't mean to upset you more—" Brik said in a panic as he saw Bill start to cry again.

The demon shook his head, hugging the man back with a tight grip.

"Oh, I see," Brik calmed himself, going back to rubbing circles against the demon's back. "Well alright... once you're ready, I will grab a bag of frozen peas for your cheek. I can't imagine that it feels too good now, does it? You can then tell me what happened with Y/n today, if you're feeling up for it. But before you do that, you really should eat something. If Cynthia found out I didn't get you to even take one bite of the food she prepared for you—... Well, I was going to say I'd end up on the couch but that's going to be your bed tonight so I'll probably be your roommate sleeping on the floor." He chuckled, shifting a bit so he could adjust to a more comfortable sitting position on the floor.

"But for now, if you'd like, we can stay here. Right here."

Bill's shoulders relaxed, the tears slowing a bit as he pressed his ear up against Brik's chest to listen to the beating of his heart. He lifted his hand hesitantly so he could grab his bowtie, feeling the fabric of it as he rubbed his fingers against it. "Will I have to tell Cynthia and the kids? ...How are they going to react when they find out?"

The human hummed, looking up to glance down the hallway his wife had gone down before shrugging. "I'm not sure. I mean, it's up to you in the end if you want to tell them or not. If you want me to keep my mouth shut about it then my lips are sealed. But if you do choose to tell them, maybe we... leave out the 'torturing kids' part?"

Bill nodded his head in agreement. That seemed doable.

"Brik?"

"What's up?"

"...Thanks."

Brik smiled, hugging the demon as close as he could to his chest. He had his problem child safely secured in his hold. If anyone dared to harm him again, they would be sorry.

"Anytime."

Goldilocks felt safe in the arms of Papa Bear.

His hug was just right.

Brx vwroh pb ergb

Chapter 22: To be determined...

Hiatus is officially over!
I'm not sure the dates of when each chapter will come out so just bear with me for a bit, alright?
Trying to get back into the swing of things!